Self-winding electric clock.



1 W. K. MENNS.

SELF WINDING ELECTRIC CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE27, 1912.

1,055,776. Patented Mar. 11,1913.

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saw wmmue ELECTRIC CLOCK.

APPLIOA'IIOH FILED JUIB 27. 1918. I 1,()55,776 Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

4 BKEETHHEBT 2.

W. K. MENNS.

SELF WINDING ELECTRIC CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1912.

1,055,776, 7 Patented Mar. 11, 1913 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 7 I All A \X/ITHESSES: lPh/EHTS W. K. MENNS.

SELF WINDING ELECTRIC CLOCK. APPLICATION Finn) JUNE27 1912,

1,055,776. Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

4 SHEETS8HEET 4.

WFFHEEEEE; HVEHTDF a/a gm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER K. MENNS, OF CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS.

SELF-WINDING ELECTRIC CLOCK.

Application filed June 27, 1912.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 11,1913.

Serial No. 706,202.

\Vinding Electric Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in self-winding electric clocks.

The object of the invention is to provide aclock which is simple in construction and accurate, and which has advantages over other clocks as heretofore constructed.

I will describe my invention in the following specification and will point out the novel features thereof in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of one embodiment of the invention, with parts broken away, Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same with parts broken away, as viewed from the right-hand side of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view, Figz is a similar view of thesetting stem, Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of the invention, and Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the same.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the clock comprises a center arbor 1O journaled in suitable formed in plates 12 and 14', upon which the works are mounted. The minute hand 16 is mounted to rotate with the center arbor, and the usual gearing is provided between said arbor and the hour hand 18. A setting stem is also n'ovided, which is normally disengaged from the works but which is adapted to be pushed inward to etfect an engagement with said works, a spring being pro idcd which automatically disengages the setting stem when it is released. This stem 20 having a knob 21. is slidably and rota ably mounted in a hearing 22, which is screw threaded into a sleeve 24 carried by a block 25 mounted between the plates 12 and 14. A shaft 26 is rotatably and slidably mounted in the sleeve '24. and is provided at one end with a socket 27, which receives the inner end of the setting stem. 20. The setting stem is provided with a pin 28 having its ends projecting on each side of said stem and adapted to be received in notches 30 formed upon the outer end of the socket 27.

to prevent relative rotation of said stem and of the cloc by a block otinsidation 73, and 1.10

the shaft 26. A coiled spring 32 surrounds hear: ngs

the shaft 26 and abuts at one end against the end of the recess 33 in the sleeve 24, and the other end of said spring abuts against the inner face of the socket 27. This spring tends normally to maintain the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2, that is, in the position in which the setting stem is inoperative or free to rotate without moving the hands. A gear 34 is fast on the shaft 26 and meshes with a gear 35 mounted upon the plate 12, when the stem 20 is pushed in to overcome the spring 82. The gear 35 meshes with a gear 36 also mounted on the plate 12, and said gear 36 is fast on the hub of the pinion 37 located on the opposite side of the plate 12. The pinion meshes with a pinion 38 on the center arbor 10. Thus by pushing the setting stem inward to bring the gears 34 and 35 into mesh, the hands 16 and 18 can be rotated to set the clock.

The clock mechanism actuated by i means of a coiled spring 40, which is fast at one end on a sieeve 42 rotatabiy mounted on the center arbor l0, and its other end is secured to a post 44 on an arm 45 carried by the plate 12. The sleeve 42 is formed with a disk 4-6 having ratchet teeth on its periphery which are adapted to be engaged by pawls 47 and 48 pivotally mounted on a gear 50, the latter being fast upon the center arbor 10. The pawls are constructed so that only one engages a ratchet tooth at a time. the end of the other being removed a half tooth from the opposing radial face of the nearest tooth. Thus one pawl is always ready to engage a tooth and with the same. result as if. the ratchet had twice the number of teeth. The iawls ii and 48 are he d in engagement with the ratchet- 46 by springs and 5 3, respectively. By this construction the sleeve 42 and the gear 50 1110\0 in uni on in one direction under the intiuoncc of the unwinding spring 40. The mechanism for intermittently winding up the spring 40 is constructed as follows:*An eleetromagnet 60 is provided,

having an armature -62 fast on a, shaft 64,

which is normally held, in the position shown in Fig. 3 by a coiled spring 66 havf ing one epd fast on said shaft, and the other end fast to a bar 68 in which one end of the shaft is journaled.

()ne terminal 'of the elcct-romagnet is connected by a. conductor 70 with a late 72 insulated from the frame the other terminal of the electromagnet is connected by a conductor 74 with the plate 12 by means of a binding post 75. i

A contact-carrying arm is clamped about. the sleeve 42 and carries a block of insulation 81 upon which a plate 82 is mounted, said plate being provided with a contact 83 which projects through the block of insulation and also through a hole in the arm 80. The plate 82 is connected by a conductor 85 with a plate 86 insulated from the framework. The contact. 83 is adapted to engage a contact arm 88 fast on the armature shaft 64 to close the circuit through the electromagnet.

The contact-carrying arm 80, being fast to the sleeve 42, is rotated by the spring 40 until the contact 83 engages the contact 88 to close the circuit through the electromagnet 60. The terminal plates 72 and 86 are con nectedto a suitable source of electrical energy in any desired manner, although a preferred way will be hereinafter described. \Vhen the electromagn et 60 is energized its armature 62 and the contact arm 88 are swung rapidly in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, against tl.v ten sion of the main spring 40. The spring 40 is thereby wound up again and the pawls 17 and 48 cooperate with the ratchet 46, it being understood that the usual power maintaining mechanism is connected to the gear 50 so that there may be no loss of time during the rewinding operation. In its present embodiment the interval of time elapsing between consecutive rewinding o p-- erations is three minutes. By employing such a short interval of time, the spring is kept at substantially the same tension constantly, thus insuring an even torsion and great regularity in the running of the clock.

In order to insure a quick response to the armature. and prevent sticking against the stop screws 90 and 9 1, resilient means are provided which tend to aid the arma ture in its initial movement. It has been found that repeated making and breaking of the circuit causes the brass stop screws to adhere slightly to the armature. A convenient method of overcoming this difficulty is to provide aleaf spring 92, which is attached to the side of the armature 62, and has its ends curved away slightly from said side, said ends being adapted to engage the ends of the stop screws with yielding pressure. Thus when the magnet is energized the spring acts as ayielding starting device to give a slight impulse to the armature to aid it in the initial starting movement, and the spring also acts as a buffer when the armature is at the end of its stroke and engages the stop screw 90.

In order to remove the works readily from the case without dismantling the electrical connections, the plates '72 and 86 are formed block 145 is provided with projection. 14:6,

with split, tubular'projections or sockets 9 1 and 96, respectively, which extend inwardly toward the works. A pair of contact studs 98 and 99 are mounted on the back 100 of. the case 101. These studs are provided with heads 102 and pass through insulating bushings 101 in the back 100, said studs being held in place by nuts 106. Conductors 108 and 110 are connected to the studs 98 and 29, respectively, by binding screws 112 and 114, said studs projecting into and effecting a good electrical contact with the split sockets 9 1 and 96, respectively.

The works are held in place within the case by a cover 116 screw-threaded upon the, open end of the case, said works and case being provided with suitable locating aper-.

tures and pins, not shown. By this construction, after the cover 116 is unscrewed the works may be withdrawn bodily from the case, the sockets 94 and 96 sliding longitudinally along the studs 98 and 99, respectively, and becoming disengaged therefrom, while the conductors 108 and 110 remain connected to the battery or other source of electrical energy.

In the embodiment illustratedin Figs. '5 and 6 it will be understood that the clock mechanism and winding stem are the same as described above, but the electric mechanism is somewhat different. In this form an electromagnet 120 is provided, having an armature 121 loosely mounted on a shaft 122, which armature is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 5 by a coiled spring 124 having one end fast to said shaft, and

the other end fast to the under side of said armature. The shaft 122 is journale'd at its upper' end in a. frame 123 and at its lower end'in a plate 12 One terminal of the magnet 120 is connected by a conductor 125 with a contact plate 126 mounted on a block of insulation 127, said cont-act plate being provided with a socket 128 adapted to re ceive a contact plug. The other terminal of the electromagnet 120 is connected by a conductor 130 to a plate 131 of the works. A-shunt 132 is connected at. one end by a screw 133 to a plate 134 of the works, and the other end of the shunt is connected to 115 the plate 126, the purpose of this shunt being to reduce the sparking at t e contacts when the magnet circuit is broken.

A contact plate 136, similar to the plate 126, is mounted on the block 127 and is also provided with a contact. socket 137. A conductor 138 is connected at one end to the plate 136, and at its other end to a bracket 140 mounted on the insulated disk 1 11 of the magnet. A conductor 142 is connected at one end to an of the bracket 149, and its other end connected to a pin Me on a block 145, said block 1 15 being fast on the shaft 122 but insulated therefrom. The

magnet which is adapted to move between two pins 14-7, 148 pio eeiing upwardly from the armature. 121. 'lhese pins limitv the move ment of the blorh' 115 relative to the zirnniiure. A contact spring" 150 is the backward or circnit-0pening movement of said sprinq.

The spring 154 is normally backed by a bell crank lever 158 full-ruined on and movable with the armature 121. The @hort arm of said bell crank is adapted to engage the rear face of the spring 154 immediatel behind the (UlllfiCL point 152, and the long :i n 159 of said hell (Tullli is adapted to me between pins 160, 1131 depending from 3 under Sltli of the frame 125%, A airing; .131 i ast on the frame 12?). and its free end be: against 21 pin 166 which projects: l1p'}l1' ruin the armature 121. The spring 1114: returns the armature to in non mal position. :is shown in Fig. 5. A leaf spring 168 is secured at one end to the edge of the arnmlure by screws 169. said npring lining adapted to engage a stop screw 170. and to give an initial impulse to the urine.- 1111': when the magnet is energized.

An arm 172 is fast on the rhafl and is adapted to be engaged by an arm 174. niniiliin to the arm described above and bearing r. rorrenponding driving relation to the LlQCli. mel-lianisni.

The operation of this form of the electric winding meehanism is as follows:--As the cloak mechanism ri r3 down the arm 17-1 :15 prowl and engages the arm 1T2, lhen lhe two trarel in engagement. thereby rotating the, aliat't 122 clockwise as viewed in Fig. The spring 124 is thereby put under tension and the armature 121 rotated in the same direction. The block 145 is film) rotated until it engages the. pin 11?, :it which time the spring 15 engages threontuet. point 15".? and closes the eirruil through the 'Tlli firruit 21 1 Hll0\\SZ--'l l current flows from the battery to plute 136. CODdUClOl' 138. briirket 11 minim-tor 112, block 145 springs 150 134, armature 121 into the works. LUHLlLH'lHl 1:50. roils oi" the ll'illfiilfiii 120 rondurlor 12!. plate 1126 to buttery.

The magnet in thereby energized and the armature turned ipiirkly eounler -lwluvue. thereby musing the arm I?! to minute the arm 174 and rewind the (lock lll fl'llzllilsill. During this movement the oontuem iso and 152 remain in coniiot until the illlll 1311 of the bell crzinl; 158 engage the pin 14%),

lwhereupon the short arm of the bell ("rank is nioreil from behind th spring 151. This fltihs said spring and allows it to tly back away from the spring .30, and thereby reak the rireuil. "thereupon the part9 return to normal iio--itioirby the notion of the spring 1131. and the arm 15:) of the bell Prank engngiw the pin 1H1. thereby returnin;: the bort urn: to its position behind the spring 15-1. in thin form of the derive the lllilIHll of time el:1p 'in between suvvesuve winding operatioin is eonvenienlly three 1lli1llll( The breaking of the rontiu'tw, positive. and there i no ienllenry for them to $ll(l\ togellier.

1. Au (l0('l]'l( rloi-k. ('onipiising an elevlroniugnet. u rolulnbly mounted shaft. nu iii-nurture on v\uiil wllilil. an zirin but on suid shalt. n nmin pring. an arm netmil'ed by F-tllll spring in on dire 'tion to engage. the arm on will -ll'iili l. and ronneeliong u'lnu'eby :i -ir -uil iswtublihed through the electronniguet. wh reby. wh n wi l eleelronuiguet in emergiyell mi l spring zu'luuted arm is re,- turued 1o ilx original position.

.2. An elw-lrie t'lol'k, comprising an elecll'\ll]1ll {llll baring :1 pair o1 roilx. u rotatable .llflfl mounted between suid eoilg an armature on said shaft. an arm fast on said shaft, a hpringg', an arm urluuteil by said spring in one direr-tion to engage the lli'lil on said Rhnt't. eonnerliom whereby a circuit is establi lieil through the eleclromngnet, and :i spring itllll ll by said armature arranged to give nu initial impulse thereto in its forward movement.

it. An ele trie (-loelr, comprising n spring for :u'tuiiting the hands, a pair of contacts one of \\'l1l 'l) i actuated in one direetion by said spring. 2111 elm-troinugnel having: it pair of coils. shaft rotatably mounted between the ('oib. an armature on said shaft, an arm nctuuled in one direction by said spring, an arm fast on said shaft adapted to be engaged by the springmctunted iii-p1, mid connertions; whereby when Said ('onlncts are, brought into engagement witheuoli other :1 eirruit is estnblished through the eleclronnignet and the springuu'tunteil iirin is returned in il original ponition.

1. Au (l(('l1l elorlt. POIHPI'lHlilQ a spring for urinating the hands. u pair of ronlnels one of \\lll('l1 iii-tainted in one diret-tion by mid spring. :in rlevtroiuup'nel having an urnnilul'e rolnlnbly mounted between its roll. no urn! :u'tunted by Hill magnet for relurnin; the sprii|;5 :i -t;,.\ted ronizu't 10 normal po llloln llllll n leaf spring! mounted on the side of the :iruuiture {or nidingl the bitter at lire beginning of its i'oruurd 1no\'ewent.

5. All elm-Erie clorlt. comprising ii nuiin spring. an elerlroinugnet having it rotary armature. u yieldiugly mounted conlin'l rurriell by said armature. :1 ldll'lilll; member for engaging said ronlzu-l. a StL'fOllll conluvt :ir ranged to be actuated into eirruit-closing mssziiion 1w said main Sufi-1m and means an .I v I 2-.

ranged in wnlufh'aw said backing member in in said zu'msxiuzw for Xif ing spring T, An vivviz'iu rlc-vk, mzn n'l'riug 41 2:21.551 spring. :1 mi? of wntwi unu ml which (.unhu-Hwi by said 11min spring and tin 01311 1 0. uwzms swing m; a summii fw "1'1 iwl wirmv, (uul mmm' an 1 id mppnrt w withdraw ihafx'lie 1c Hu- :wahwis 1 by vzvpm'ul .h: 'le 'ufic clowk, mmprismg 2m rivalrmnza rlm! prmjdml with an arm: 1.1112, a \idbiin;giy nwmnwi wn z'wt unrrivd by said mam or snpg'un'tingj said um giengi ya whivh is muunhjd upon :1 5 1482% with 5 mated niu cil'cuif. (lowing posilion by the duck spring, and 11103115 mi'ipez'ating with he rampart fm' mid g vmmuii ar- 1 in qppm f In vzmbie :m elem spun; wnnwi mm hm) by .mmim" fim 1w M In HIXLTER K. MEL: N15.

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